Evidence of The Holy Spirit

How can you discern the Holy Spirit in others? This question is very relevant to our growth and spiritual well-being. Why? – Because we need to know when what we are hearing is the inpired word of the Spirit of God.  If we just accept everything we hear we will soon be led down the path of spiritual error.

• Fool-Proof Test

There is one fool-proof test you can apply to determine if what you are hearing is spiritual truth; and that is this. Consider what James says here in Chapter 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. From this we can reliably infer that we MUST have a peace about what we are hearing. If you can apply all the tests in this Bible verse to what you hear, you can be confidant that what you are hearing is from the Holy Spirit of God – it will be full of mercy, good fruits, impartial and above all pure and peaceful.

• Unquiet Spirit

There is one thing the devil CANNOT fake, and that is love. You may be hearing stuff that sounds very reasonable at the time, but if it leaves you with an unquiet spirit, then you can be assured that it is NOT from God. If what you see and hear makes you feel restless, discontented, anxious or worried, you can be confidant that it came from that other kingdom – the kingdom of darkness.  God is Love: Therefore anything from God must be pure; have an underlying theme of love, and leave you with a feeling of peace.

• Simple, Reliable Test

Jesus gave us a very reliable and simple test to apply when we are not sure what we are confronted with.  In effect, He said; “Look at the fruit to see what sort of a tree it is” [Matt 7:16  By their  fruit  you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? .......20  Thus, by their  fruit  you will recognize them]. So if the visible fruit in the life of the person you are listening to are the fruits of Love, Joy, Peace, etc, of the Spirit, described in Galations, then you can be sure that the Spirit of God is directing that person’s life.